Red Nicholson - Year 9 Dean

Red Nicholson’s faith in the power of leadership led him to undertake the Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Leadership. Now he wants to nurture the next generation of leaders.

Red Nicholson in front of a white board inside the class room
Red Nicholson

Key facts

Career: Year 9 Dean and Media Studies teacher at Onehunga High School.
Programme(s): Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Secondary), Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Leadership
Campus: Epsom

“I believe anyone can be a leader. Leadership isn’t a role or job title, it merely requires a generosity of spirit and a willingness to take action to make our world a better place.”

“My faith in the power of leadership has led me to undertake the Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Leadership at the University of Auckland.

“I look to the Faculty of Education and Social Work to demonstrate courage, vision and innovation and look forward to developing my own capacity within this bold, future-focused environment.

“A large part of my work as Year 9 Dean is supporting others to take on new challenges. One of my favourite reflections around mentoring is, ‘How might you mentor someone in such a way that they become a better teacher than you could ever be?’ It’s a robust challenge that requires reflection, vulnerability and a willingness to reframe how you see your relationships with others – also key elements of leadership.

“This qualification will equip me with the skills to foster a community of leadership – a school environment where teachers have high expectations of themselves, are courageous enough to try new things, and actively support each other through that process. It will also help me nurture the next generation of leaders: our rangatahi."